[Reader-list] Common man and election results.

[Rajen Uppinangadi]

Dear All,

    The carnival of general elections is in last two phases and almost 2/3
seats of parliament have been voted into EVMs. The vast nation that this
Bharath is , we can see the varied percentage of voting in different parts
of the regions in the nation. First and foremost dampener was perhaps the
hot weather of summer.Second factor was the joke of the election commission
which takes months to do all the sorting of the logistics but still has
little success in making the voting a good experience for voters.The listed
names missing, more names adding, voters of the previous elections missing
in the present list are only few  jokes to recall., though to voter it is
quite a nightmare to stand for hours to get the epic, correct the spellings
of the name and address etc.

The role of money in elections was never so vulgar as in the present
elections, liqour flowed with new ingenious methods, all parties are guilty
to different degrees in this vulgar exploitation of human weakness.

     The psephologists also had a demanding time, as voter has seen that
after 1989 none have reached aywhere near the predictions they have made
with sample surveys, sixth sense and plain nonsense of experts.To say the
least, the pre poll survey and post poll survey have become the jokes for
the other channels on comedy shows.While one channel made genuine effort to
connect itself with voter with its election expres as deluxe bus, the anchor
was clearly biased in asking the voter leading questions as to his voting
preference.But in all, the tv channels have lost their credibilty as they
are seen as the puppets trying to please those in power. The role of
advertisement revenue to channels by different parties  also raises the
question as to journalism sways with money doled out.? Though journalists
have high integrity and intelectual freedom to call spade a spade, the tv
anchors can not be bracketed in this category of journalists as these are
only celebrities, who do not even verify the correctnes of facts, but air
the views as news.Examples are many, where tv anchors in the anxiety to be
first and exclusive to "breaking news" have made themselves idiotic, be it
prince in the well, or Arushi murder case, where each channel was playing
one upman ship, the facts were best of their imaginations, later reinforced
by "reconstruction"

 All these factors point out very clearly that these highly paid tv anchors
are not aware of the common voter or his sentiments, nor do they have
patience to understand him with deadline beating on their face.?

What about results, ? Common sense tells that the more divided the polity
more unexpected can happen, earlier, unity index of opposition parties to
ruling party was a giveaway of the guessing game. But with caste based
parties and engineered caste equations, psuedo secular arrangements for vote
banks, and community vote banks, the common voter in any parliament seat
goes by the candidate whom he thinks that is good for his needs., who has
performed some good work for the constituency.

   But the role of regional satraps like Sharad Pawar, Lalu and Mulayam and
Mayavathi along with Jayalalithaa are not over as yet. Another two elections
and some more bad governance of the elcted, then the voter will wake up to
vote unlike Mumbai but in full force to show his concern/ disapproval or
approval. Current elections  will be surprising everyone with most obscure
of the results and events in future which will determine the fate of many a
national parties like the Congress, BJP and CPI and CPM. As power will be
driving force along with the idea that BJP should be kept out of power, it
will not surprise any one when even if BJP improves its tally in NDA upto
190, it may not get any mates to be in power. Whereas even if Congress
manages just about 120 seats, it may not be in a position to dictate terms
but will have to fall in line with all regional and caste based parties for
"secular governance."? If not master of  division, Sharad Pawar will divide
Congress as Sonia Congress and national Congress.!

Regards,

Rajen.